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May 31, 2009
Tweet
Categories: Maryland | Northern Virginia | Washington, DC
It was bound to happen, eventually. I gave in and joined the Twitter revolution.
Is it just me, or is this simultaneously the most promising and claustrophobic technology EVER? And what mother has the time or the stomach to tweet every mundane move of her day, anyhow? I sure as heck won't be bombarding myself and others with anything approaching a complete transcript of my tedium. I'm not convinced that I want to stalk and be stalked by my friends, associates, and loved ones "in all those moments between the emails and the blog posts and the IMs and the phone calls," as the Twitter promo video tells me I should. I'm a girl who likes to be unplugged, unreachable, and unknowable on a regular basis, thank you very much. So I mostly consider my Twitter account a noble experiment in staying young. Join me in it, dear readers, if you're game.
Posted by Sarah at 5:33 PM. Permanent link to "Tweet." | Comments (0)
May 30, 2009
Do you have a cover-baby? Win a Hela Spa package!
Categories: Maryland | Washington, DC
Our friends at Hela Spa (Georgetown & Chevy Chase) are searching for their next beautiful "spa baby." Enter their Facebook photo contest by sending your favorite baby pic via email to: info-at-helaspa-dot-com by Monday, June 1. The winning baby/mama will receive an indulgent spa package. The final vote will take place via Hela Spa's Facebook page, so ask your friends and family to join and vote.
Also check out their Baby Spa Menu, to see the adorable face of their current "spa baby."
Good luck!
p.s. Check our June e-newsletter for details on what Hela Spa's offering for Father's Day specials!
Posted by Sarah at 7:40 AM. Permanent link to "Do you have a cover-baby? Win a Hela Spa package!." | Comments (1)
May 29, 2009
Weekend Watch: Carnival in Springfield & Family Sing in Bethesda
Categories: Maryland | Northern Virginia
Good stuff on both sides of the Potomac this weekend:
Springfield Days is underway in NoVa, now through Sunday, with kids' carnival rides and games, live entertainment, a PetFest, and Paws Parade at the Springfield mall - plus a cardboard boat regatta, concert, and movie-under-the-stars at Lake Accotink Park, and a fitness fest at the South Run Rec Center.
If you've been meaning to check out the (fabulous, fabulous) musiKids program, or if you're already one of their loyal families, plan to attend their FREE Family Sing this Sunday, May 31 from 11 a.m. to 12 noon in Bethesda. Space is limited, so you do need to RSVP that you plan to attend. Send email to: info-at-musikids-dot-com.
p.s. Also this weekend, for the grownups (and older preschoolers/school age kids who might be interested in dance and performance, like my daughter!)... My friend and neighbor Sara Lavan - who is featured in the second edition of my book as a local prenatal/postpartum pilates instructor and nutrition consultant for mamas - will be performing with the Choreographers Collaboration Project Saturday, 7 p.m. at the Durant Center in Old Town Alexandria. Sara's a great inspiration those of us who need reminders to never fully relinquish our "former," pre-mommy passions... Congrats to her for getting back to the professional dance world, and proving that there's life after New York City!
Posted by Sarah at 9:42 AM. Permanent link to "Weekend Watch: Carnival in Springfield & Family Sing in Bethesda." | Comments (0)
May 28, 2009
Expectant mamas: "Meet the Doulas" this weekend in DC
Categories: Washington, DC
Are you pregnant and considering hiring a birth and/or postpartum doula? Plan to attend a FREE "Meet the Doulas" event on Capitol Hill this Saturday, May 30, from 1 to 3 p.m. at 628 5th St. NE.
Whether this is your first baby or you're a veteran parent who has never used a doula, this is a great opportunity to learn more about how having a doula at your birth can help reduce your chances of ending up with an emergency c-section, shorten your labor, reduce your need for epidural or other drugs, and reduce the chances you'll need a forceps delivery. You can also learn more about what postpartum doulas do, and how they can help you at home during those joyful but exhausting early weeks with a newborn.
Birth and postpartum doulas who serve the DC metro area will be on hand to talk with you about their services, which can help save you a LOT of time and effort in the search/interview/selection process, should you decide to go the doula route. As someone who has used a doula myself, I highly, highly recommend the experience. I can tell you that their services are in demand in this area, and that they book up EARLY. So it's never too soon in your pregnancy to find someone.
This "Meet the Doulas" event is sponsored by ICAN of DC, a nonprofit group "dedicated to supporting safe birth and lowering the rate of unnecessary cesareans."
Posted by Sarah at 9:42 AM. Permanent link to "Expectant mamas: "Meet the Doulas" this weekend in DC." | Comments (0)
May 27, 2009
NCM hosts free summer fun @ the National Harbor
Categories: Washington, DC
The long-anticipated National Children's Museum still isn't open...but the good news is, they're bringing back their summertime family programs at the National Harbor. The free-admission events take place Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., now through September 5, at their "Launch Zone."
Each Saturday's activities center around a different theme. Our picks for the preschool set in their early summer lineup:
This Saturday, May 30, Puppet Day, with an original children's theater performance, "The Truth About Bunny."
And June 13: Make your own birdfeeder and learn about what different birds eat on Feed the Birds Day. And take part in a fun benefit for the Washington Animal Rescue League. Bring your old (but clean) blankets and towels to donate toward making comfy beds for rescued pets, and make your own dog or cat toy to share with shelter animals.
So is this new and improved museum EVER going to open, you ask??? (You and the rest of the child-endowed city.) The latest projection is 2013. So it's not exactly "right around the corner." But the free, museum-without-walls programs they offer in the meantime are all worth taking advantage of...and will help keep the dream of a revived National Children's Museum on the public radar while we wait.
Posted by Sarah at 9:10 PM. Permanent link to "NCM hosts free summer fun @ the National Harbor." | Comments (0)
May 22, 2009
Weekend Watch: Memorial Day weekend
Categories: Northern Virginia | Washington, DC
Two great, FREE Memorial Day events appropriate for young kids this holiday weekend: On Monday, check out the 28th Annual Parade & Festival in Falls Church or the National Memorial Day Parade in downtown DC.
The Falls Church event runs all day on the grounds of City Hall, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with live music, carnival rides, pony rides, food vendors, and arts & crafts booths. Parade starts at 2:00.
The DC parade begins at 2 p.m. and moves down Constitution Ave. It's huge - and so are the crowds - so take metro and leave early.
Enjoy a fun and safe extended weekend!
Posted by Sarah at 2:24 PM. Permanent link to "Weekend Watch: Memorial Day weekend." | Comments (0)
May 19, 2009
Giving kids-in-need a boost with the Shop Campagna Kids Card
Categories: Northern Virginia
A great shopping and dining discount in Alexandria for a great cause: The Campagna Center, like many nonprofits that provide services to children, has fallen on tough times in this economy. To help provide a much-needed boost, the Junior Friends of the Campagna Center have launched a new program that's a win-win for everyone.
For $50 - 100 percent of which is tax-deductible - you can purchase a Shop Campagna Kids Card, which entitles you to two 10-day discount shopping/dining period at many Alexandria boutiques, wine stores and restaurants. Cardholders will also be invited to monthly "Sip 'n Save" events, after-hours private shopping nights.
You can purchase your Shop Campagna Kids Card at The Shoe Hive in Old Town, on Saturdays at the Stanton Gallery in Old Town, or at one of the montlhy "Sip 'n Save" events. For the complete scoop, visit www.shopcampagnakidscard.blogspot.com. More questions? Send email to: shopcampagnakidscard-at-gmail-dot-com.
Posted by Sarah at 9:43 AM. Permanent link to "Giving kids-in-need a boost with the Shop Campagna Kids Card." | Comments (0)
May 18, 2009
An evening of family fun from the Washington Jewish Music Festival
Categories: Washington, DC
An evening of fun for local Jewish families: On Friday, June 5 at 6 p.m., the Washington Jewish Music Festival invites you to a Family Shabbat Service and Dinner at the DCJCC in DC, with a performer and music educator ShirLala (aka Shira Kline). After services, a Kosher, traditional Friday night dinner will be served with kid-friendly foods "to satisfy event he pickiest eaters."
The event is geared toward families with children ages two to six. Cost for the dinner (which starts at 6:45 p.m.) is $15 per adult and $7.50 for children (advance reservations required). For your tix, click here or call 202.777.3251.
Thanks to DCB reader Lili G. for sharing this with us!
Posted by Sarah at 10:02 AM. Permanent link to "An evening of family fun from the Washington Jewish Music Festival." | Comments (0)
May 15, 2009
Weekend Watch: Dragon Boats & May Fair in DC
Categories: Washington, DC
IF the rain stays away tomorrow and Sunday, take the kids to check out the Dragon Boats Festival on the Potomac, departing from the docks of Thompson Boathouse on the Georgetown waterfront. The boats and races are amazing and fun for young kids to watch, but also worth catching are the dance, music, and other cultural groups.
Also this weekend is Turtle Park's Annual May Fair on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the AU Park/Tenley neighborhood. We went last year and had a great time. Our daughter loved the pony rides and the inflatables/slides, and we had a good lunch there. It does get quite crowded, so we recommend arriving as close to opening time as you can manage. The funds raised keep Turtle Park the beautiful, welcoming play space that it is! Still one of our very favorite playgrounds in the entire DC area.
Posted by Sarah at 2:36 PM. Permanent link to "Weekend Watch: Dragon Boats & May Fair in DC." | Comments (0)
May 14, 2009
The parenting pain of weekend rain
Categories: Maryland | Northern Virginia | Washington, DC
The Washington Post's "Capital Weather Gang" meteorologist (and DC dad) Dan Stillman has been blogging about the parenting pain of weekend rain. And brother, I empathize.
Since it looks like we'll get yet more of the wet stuff this weekend, be sure to check out the reader comments beneath Stillman's entry for rainy-weekend tips and commiseration from other local parents - and be sure to add your own! We also recommend consulting the stellar compilations of indoor play areas and indoor pools/water parks from the Our Kids website.
Posted by Sarah at 2:57 PM. Permanent link to "The parenting pain of weekend rain." | Comments (0)
May 13, 2009
Please vote for us!
Categories: Maryland | Northern Virginia | Washington, DC
I'm honored that Nickelodeon has selected my blog as a finalist in its "2009 Parent Picks" awards for the Washington, DC area!
Fine, loyal readers that you are, will you cast your votes for DC BABY?
You can vote once a day, every day, until July 15, 2009. No registration is required to cast your votes. But while you're there, be sure to enter the sweepstakes for a chance to win $2,000 cash. Your very own stimulus package!
Recognition like this makes the four+ years of hard (and often uncompensated) work feel worthwhile! Thank you to Nickelodeon for nominating the DC BABY blog!
Posted by Sarah at 10:52 AM. Permanent link to "Please vote for us!." | Comments (0)
May 12, 2009
Limited time only: Special discount on Our Kids membership!
Categories: Maryland | Northern Virginia | Washington, DC
Just for you, DC BABY readers - and for a limited time only: The area's best local resource for families, Our Kids, is offering you a discounted membership. Until May 31st, enter promotion code DC2 to receive $2 off your subscription price.
We've been Our Kids members since 2005, and it's still, hands down, our go-to source for information about kid-friendly DC-area events and activities, reviews, special discounts and raffle giveaways, calendars of upcoming consignment sales and camp/school open houses, support programs for parents, classifieds...and the list goes on.
Yes, Our Kids also provides a great free service through its accessible website...but subscription to the weekly newsletter comes with many additional perks and gives a wealth of information not found by searching the website alone. The volume of information and weekly offers makes the modest subscription price worth every penny, and then some.
The Our Kids weekly e-newsletter is genuinely comprehensive...covering DC, suburban Maryland, and NoVa in equal measure...and it's handy for parents with kids of ALL ages - from infants to tweens. At our house, we've discovered that the newsletter really grows with us over time. There's as much good content for the parents of school-agers as for families with babies, toddlers and preschoolers. And it's a mom-founded, mom-owned, mom-powered business that we're proud to support.
For all these reasons and more, I wrote rave, first-hand reviews about Our Kids in both editions of my book. Enjoy your discounted subscription!
Posted by Sarah at 2:11 PM. Permanent link to "Limited time only: Special discount on Our Kids membership!." | Comments (0)
May 11, 2009
Best Mother's Day yet - + "Moms Do Lunch" tomorrow in NoVa
Categories: Northern Virginia | Washington, DC
Hope you all enjoyed a Happy Mother's Day!
This year, with the help of my husband, I took my own sage advice. I slept (after booting my 14-month-old son out of my bed at 7 a.m. and luxuriating in being able to both stretch out and turn over in the bed at will!), didn't get dressed until almost noon, skipped or postponed or delegated the usual Sunday chores, planned zero family fun...and best of all, in the afternoon got help for my stiff neck and knotty shoulders with a massage from Mary at the fabulous Hela Spa. Thumbs up!
While I was there, I got a look at Hela's extensive new Baby Spa Menu. In short, it rocks. Along with several prenatal and postpartum massage and body treatments for mamas, the menu also features creative services for baby showers and gift packages. (I love the Seated Massage, where every gal at your baby shower gets a chair massage, with extra special treatment for the mom-to-be). And infant massage and couples' massage instruction. And express treatments and add-ons to ease some of the the uniquely unpleasant stresses of pregnancy. And Hela is providing free skincare consultation with any other Baby Spa Service, to help expectant moms care for the changes that often come with crazy hormones.
New topic: DCB friend and our official photographer Elizabeth Dranitzke will be at the "Moms Do Lunch" event tomorrow, May 12, at 11 a.m. at Generous George's Positive Pizza in Herndon (2321-C Dulles Station Blvd.). Come with OR without your children. Elizabeth will be on hand doing free portraits of the kids and a drawing for a free portrait session.
The event starts with door prizes and a snack for the kids, followed by a short program on "Estate Planning and Selecting a Guardian for Your Children," led by Carrie Tipton of the Arbor Law Firm, and plenty of time for moms to network.
Posted by Sarah at 10:35 AM. Permanent link to "Best Mother's Day yet - + "Moms Do Lunch" tomorrow in NoVa." | Comments (0)
May 7, 2009
Weekend Watch: Mother's Day
Categories: Maryland | Northern Virginia | Washington, DC
Can I be frank? I recommend that my fellow mamas plan to attend zero kid-friendly events this weekend, and to orchestrate zero family outings. It's Mother's Day, and mothers need to take a little self-ish time. Really.
But feel free to forward this info to the dads, so that THEY can orchestrate the weekend's family fun:
In the May DCB newsletter I covered the International Children's Festival at DC's Meridian Center, set for Saturday. Check it out!
Don't forget National Train Day events @ Union Station.
Local award-winning children's author Erica S. Perl will do an interactive storytime and signing for her funny new picture book, Chicken Butt!, Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Barnes & Noble in downtown Bethesda (4801 Bethesda Ave.) . Her first picture book, Chicken Bedtime is Really Early, got a starred review from Booklist and was featured in Reading with Babies, Toddlers and Twos. She followed that success with Ninety-Three in My Family, which received the Reuben Award and was a Book Sense Pick. (Thank you to Apple Seed co-owner Elleni for turning me on to Erica's work!)
Or catch the French storytime on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. at Hooray for Books children's bookstore in Old Town Alexandria. Expanding the cultural horizons is free for all.
And if the weather holds, Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. head to the FREE Stead Park Day Celebration (1625 P St. NW near Dupont Circle), sponsored by DC Parks & Rec and Friends of Stead. There will be carnival activities, face painting and kid-friendly snacks. This year's event will unveil some long-awaited renovations, inclduing two age-appropriate playgrounds for toddlers and older children, a climbing wall, a turf picnic zone, and a resurfaced basketball court.
Happy Mother's Day, moms! May you all have a relaxing, rejuvenating day.
Posted by Sarah at 10:28 AM. Permanent link to "Weekend Watch: Mother's Day." | Comments (0)
May 6, 2009
FREE children's portrait session @ The Pajama Squid
Categories: Maryland | Washington, DC
Children's photographer Rebecca Drobis will be shooting portraits at adorable Takoma Park boutique The Pajama Squid on Sunday, May 17 from 12 noon to 3 p.m. Best of all, your 5-10 minute sitting is FEE-FREE. (Not a typo.)
With no obligation to buy, you can view your proofs online with the option to purchase prints from the session. AND one participating family will be drawn at random to win a print-package worth over $125!
Rebecca Drobis is an award-winning photographer who specializes in natural, spontaneous images of kids. Her work has appeared in the Washington Post magazine, the LA Times and on the Discovery Channel. The Pajama Squid is located at 7320 Carroll Ave. on the Maryland side of Takoma Park, near the red line metro station. Featured in the Revised Second Edition of my DC BABY book, they've got a nice selection of unique, handmade wooden and plush European and American-made toys and books, and beautiful, unique clothing (several of whose brands benefit mothers and children in countries such as India and Morocco).
Posted by Sarah at 12:06 PM. Permanent link to "FREE children's portrait session @ The Pajama Squid." | Comments (0)
May 5, 2009
National Train Day @ Union Station
Categories: Washington, DC
If your kids love trains, you need to go: Amtrak will celebrate 140 years of American train travel at the Second Annual National Train Day event at Union Station in DC, this Saturday, May 9 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
This FREE event is family-oriented and will be emceed by American Idol judge Randy Jackson. The celebration includes magicians, face painters, Radio Disney, train exhibits, The Georgia 300 (Prez Obama's historic inaugural private train car) and The Dover Harbor.
Also in honor of National Train Day, Amtrak riders will earn double Amtrak Guest Rewards points on each of the first four Amtrak train trips and triple points for the fifth trip and beyond, now through May 8, 2009. And you can earn quadruple points for any trip taken on National Train Day, Saturday, May 9, 2009.
Posted by Sarah at 9:40 AM. Permanent link to "National Train Day @ Union Station." | Comments (0)
May 1, 2009
Weekend Watch: So many choices!
Categories: Maryland | Northern Virginia | Washington, DC
LOTS going on this weekend for families with young children, including...
Kentlands Day in Gaithersburg (complete with a parade!), Family Day at Glen Echo Park, a big Cinco de Mayo Fiesta on the National Mall, Bird Fest at the National Zoo, a Celebrate Mothers Day Open House at Hot Mama Fitness Studio and the Celebrate Mama event, both in downtown Bethesda.
And my colleague/friend/DCB reader Heather Alderman is hosting an Usborne Book Fair at her home in Arlington on Sunday at 2 p.m. (418 N. Granada St.) - All are welcome, but please RSVP by the end of the day TODAY if you plan to stop by: fishfacegirl-at-yahoo-dot-com. We really like the Usborne books...Highly recommend them.
Enjoy!
Posted by Sarah at 1:24 PM. Permanent link to "Weekend Watch: So many choices!." | Comments (0)