Totally cute for the little girlies!!

Hi everyone,

I have a fantastic friend and she makes the most adorable hair bows and head bands for little girls! With the holidays upon us now, this is a great gift idea, as well as a must for your little girls!!!

http://www.facebook.com/katelynnskloset

Thanks for checking her page out!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!

ZOO LIGHTS IS BACK!!!!

Hi all!

Mark your calendars! Zoo Lights at The National Zoo!

5-9 p.m.

November 25-December 11
(Friday through Sunday nights)

December 16-January 1
(Every night except December 24, 25, and 31)

ZooLights. It's Wild . . . It's Free!

http://nationalzoo.si.edu/ActivitiesAndEvents/Celebrations/ZooLights/default.cfm

Busy times ahead

Hi Everyone,

Its coming up on that time of year - the busy holiday season. There are so many wonderful activities out there to do with the kiddos. I will try and post daily some ideas and activities that are going on. Here a few that you might want to put down on the calendar.

Polar Express:

http://mountainrailwv.com/choose-a-train/polar-express

Knuffle Bunny:

http://www.kennedy-center.org/events/?event=KMTBD

ICE! at National Harbor:

http://www.gaylordhotels.com/gaylord-national/christmas-on-the-potomac/ice-experience/index.html?intcmp=gn-pl=banner-cid=cotp-ice


Disney on Ice:

http://disney.go.com/disneyonice/

Sesame Street Live:

http://sesamestreetlive.com/

Twas the Night Before Christmas at Adventure Theatre:

http://www.adventuretheatre.org/

Hello mom's, dad's, friends, and family!

Hi All!

Last year I was putting up calendars of events of local activities on a monthly basis.  But there are so many great sites that already list the things to do around town, that I decided to put them all in one place as a resource.

Here they are:

http://www.our-kids.com/

http://gocitykids.parentsconnect.com/region/washington-dc-usa

http://www.playseum.com/

http://www.thepuppetco.org/

http://www.adventuretheatre.org/

http://www.friendsofhuntleymeadows.org/

http://www.washingtonparent.com/calendar.php

http://library.arlingtonva.us/Departments/Libraries/LibrariesMain.aspx

http://www.alexandria.lib.va.us/

http://store-locator.barnesandnoble.com/storelocator/stores.aspx?pagetype=storeList&city=&state=&zip=22314#content

http://www.si.edu/

I hope you find this list helpful!

Mark your calendar for Family Day!

http://apps.alexandriava.gov/Calendar/Detail.aspx?si=2030

Free Tonight on the Potomac

Sunday's are free family movie night on the Potomac at The National Harbor! The movie begins at 7:55 p.m. There are only 3 movies left this season - so take the family and head on down!

Sorry for the time away

Hi everyone! I'm so sorry that I have been away from the blog. My computer went kapoot and kerplow!! After my tech savey hubby fixed it up, I was away and then we had house guests. I promise the calendar will be up for July and I will post pics and reviews from my latest trip to Walt Disney World too!

Thank you for you support and patience!!

Earth Day!

Tomorrow is Earth Day! A great way of getting out and enjoying the beauty of this Earth!

For a free gift this Earth Day, come to a local Disney Store. Just bring 5 plastic bags and receive this FREE tote!!!

April Calendar

Hi everyone,

I am so sorry this is so late. There were major technical difficulties this month getting the calendar up. Unless I can come up with another way of doing it, I will have to convert to a google document that can be viewed publicly and then post the link on the blog. With so many more items and activities posted on each day, the way I used to do is not posting clearly. I create the calendar in a word document and then take a snap shot to convert it to a jpg since I can't post a word document to the blog. However, when I converted to a jpg, the image was blurry because of all the information on the calendar. I hope everyone is able to view the calendar using this new method. If you have any issues, please let me know and I can email it to you directly.

Thank you!

Here it is!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1k42lPzkYU2_wMWX3oYs3Ngfeyu4Dzh906axxpFRaBZ0/edit?hl=en&pli=1#

Daily Disney Planning Tip

Hi Everyone!

It has been a crazy week filled with doctor appointments, getting rear-ended, and having posting problems on the blog that seem to have been resolved, so I haven't been able to post my Daily Disney Planning Tips. So to make up for it, here is the TOP 10 DISNEY PLANNING TIPS!

1) When you are planning your days at the park, plan some time to relax and head back to the resort or hotel. We've all seen the kids, right around 3 o'clock, have the melt down! And you know what, the adults reach that point too! There is so much to do and so much to see that you need time to decompress from all the Mickey Madness.  Also, its a great way to just freshen up and recharge the batteries to push through to the fireworks. Take a dip in the pool or a nap. And after a couple of hours, you will feel recharged for a fun filled evening at the Parks!

2) Check, double check and recheck the park hours and plan your days. I don't want you to feel like you are micro managing your days. Of course you need to have the 3 F's when you are at the parks - Fun! Flexibility! Freedom! But...it is advised that you have a general breakdown of how your day will be planned. This will make it easier for you to see everything you want to see. For example, are you staying for the parade? If so, what time is it? Do you have reservations to make for breakfast or dinner? How far away is it from your resort and can you use Disney transportation to get there?  180 days before your arrival, you will be able to see the park hours. These are just a general guideline though as the hours change. Usually, they do not lesson the hours, but actually extend them. But you still want to make sure what the hours are, when the fireworks are, and what time the parades will be going through the parks.

3) Make Advanced Dining Reservations! I can not stress this point enough! 180 day prior to arrival you are able to make your dining reservations. And I recommend that you make them! All the most popular restaurants book up this far in advance. Some people want to just see where they are and what they feel like eating when they arrive and how their days go. That is fine - but if you travel this way - be prepared that you will not be able to eat at that favorite restaurant or have that Character Dining Experience that you wanted you have.

4) Do your research! This is another huge point - learn and research as much as you can about dining and visiting Walt Disney World. There are so many hidden tips and ideas, plans and suggestions, things to do that are not necessarily posted in the Parks, and ideas to help your trip go smoothly. For example, if you want to eat at Akerhaus in Epcot and see the princesses and you plan on being there for dinner - look online at the menu. You will see that it is not your typical "American" fare. And if you have a picky eater traveling with you - they may be hungry when they leave this restaurant!  Another example, if you are dying to get that one on one time with Mickey, see where in the parks he will be and at what times. For example, what are the age and height requirements for the rides. If you have a littler guest who wants nothing more then to ride Expedition Everest, you need to make sure that the little adventurer is able to! And finally - check the weather! This seems silly to mention this but if you are planning a trip in July, you need to be prepared for the weather - it is hot and it will rain! So take a look at the weather!!  Again - Research, Plan! And Plan and Research!

5) Be prepared for costs. Disney is expensive. But it doesn't have to break the bank. Although there are tips and ways to save money. Face it, Disney is a magical experience and you are paying for that magic. But to help you avoid those massive credit card bills after the trip and to help ease the stress while you are at WDW, here are some tips.

• Stop stressing about the money. Don't let it dictate your experience at the World. You can work within your budget and have a great time so try not to think about how much each magical moment is costing you.
• Try a dining plan. To help those out of pocket expenses, the dining plan budgets your meals into your trip and you can pay for them ahead of time.
• Make sure everyone is aware of the budget. Everyone gets the "I-Want-See's" when you get to WDW. So make sure that everyone knows what the budget is. For example, set a limit ahead of time on how many treats/souvenirs each person can have each day. Another fun thing for kids - give them a Disney Gift Card so they know how much they have to spend. And when its gone - its gone! 
• Bring in snacks that don't melt (it gets crazy HOT in the summer!!) and bottled water for you to munch on during the day. I am a person that can not live with a Diet Coke every day. So I toss in my back pack a bottle of Diet Coke and a reusable bottle filled with water. - A fun tip, I found a refillable water bottle that has a filter built into it. So you can use tap water and fill your water bottle and it filters it for you. 
• Stay at a Disney Resort. This one might be surprising but it is true. You can maximize the hours you have to play in the Parks by using the Extra Magic Hours. When staying at a resort, there is free transportation to all of the parks and resorts either by bus, monorail or boat. If you are staying off property, be prepared to pay $14/day to park your vehicle at the parks. If you are flying to WDW, you can fly into the Orlando International Airport and take advantage of using the Disney Magical Express. This FREE service takes you and your family and all of your luggage and belongs to either the parks or resort! If you arrive early, and you want to go right to the parks, you can be dropped at the parks and your bags will be waiting in your room when you head back to the resort. And finally - although there are deluxe luxury resorts at WDW, there are also Value Resorts. They are well themed, clean, and fun for the kids. And in the end - you are not paying much more if not less then what you would be paying to stay off property.

6) Have a well stocked back pack.This is important. There is a lot of walking at WDW and you don't want to be bogged down by a huge back pack. So plan ahead and pack a back pack that you feel comfortable carrying but has everything you need. I always hit the "travel size" aisle at Target before I head to WDW. I get a zip lock bag - usually the quart size bag and I put the travel size items in there. I toss that in my bag, along with a travel Disney Guide (available at amazon.com or any book store), ponchos for everyone in the family (because it does rain in Florida!), and my bottle of water. In my zip lock bag is the following:

• sunscreen
• tide stick
• dental floss
• Colgate wisp
• Advil
• eye drops
• a small handi sack (bag for the wet ponchos!)
• Kleenex
• tums
• contact solution
• allergy medication
• hand sanitizer
• chap stick
• bug spray towelettes
• shout wipes
• handi wipes
• and a small pouch filled with neosoprin and band-aids

7) Utilize the Disney Photo Pass.  All through the parks, especially in front of the most popular photo places (i.e. Cinderella's Castle) you will see Disney Photo Pass photographers. They will take your photo and then give you a card. Using the number on that card, you log onto the Disney Photo Pass website and you can view and purchase your pictures. You can also view and purchase the picture at the Photo Shop in each Disney park. So every time you see this photographer - give him your card and all the images will be loaded for your viewing and purchase. One thing to understand though, the pictures are expensive when purchased this way. You do have the option of purchasing a CD of all the images and that costs about $99. I always factor this cost into our trip because I scrapbook and the pictures are a huge a part of our trip for my husband and I. BUT, and here's the tip. These photographers will also take the same picture with YOUR camera! So utilize them! Don't always be the one behind the camera! Get those family photos and fun shots!

8) Make an Advanced Dining Reservation for breakfast inside the parks, BEFORE the parks open. This is a great way to get in the park and get your photos with little to no crowds. Also, the shops open early and its a great way to get those souvenirs you want!!

9) Utilize the Package Delivery and Package Pick Up. This is a great service. If you are staying at a Disney Resort, when you buy a souvenir, you can have it sent back to resort - FOR FREE!! So you don't have to lug around the parks all of your souvenirs! If you are not staying at a Disney Resort, you can use the Package Pick Up service. This is a free service that will take your packages to the entrance of the park and keep them there at package pickup. Just don't forget to pick them up on your way out of the park!!

10) For parents - take advantage of the Ride Swap! If you are traveling with a toddler and an infant, but both mom and dad want to ride the ride, you can do so without having to stand in line again. For example, at Tower of Terror at the Disney Hollywood Studios, you tell the cast member before you enter the ride that you need a ride swap ticket. He will give you a ticket that allows you to all wait in line together, and then when it is time to ride, one parent goes on the ride with the toddler while the other parent waits with the infant. Then when the ride is over, you swap! You don't have to wait in line all over again! It is a great way that allows everyone a chance to experience their favorite rides!

Looking for a great stamp...look no further!

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http://psastampcamp.blogspot.com/2011/03/shout-out-psa-stamp-camp-win-big.html

Daily Disney Planning Tip

How do you help prevent the massive "I want see's" when you and your family get to Walt Disney World? It's hard enough for me, a 35 year old adult, to not want everything I see!!! Here are some things you can get ahead of time!

You can buy Disney tshirts on sale ahead of time!

Pin trading is a very popular thing to do down at Walt Disney World - get a laynard ahead of time and check the Disney store and ebay for pins that are on sale!

Pick up or make an autograph book ahead of time!

Buy a gift card at the Disney Store with a limit. Give that to each child so that they know ahead of time how much fun money they can spend.

Another helpful tip is to put in place ahead of time how many "treats" and/or souvenirs each child can get and the price limit.

Happy Planning!

Daily Disney Planning Tip

Due to some computer issues yesterday - I was not able to post the daily Disney Planning Tip. So today, i've got 2!

Disney Dining and Characters

Deciding whether to go with a dining plan is a big decision. And it is not a plan for everyone. For my husband and I, we like the dining plans because it allows us to pay for almost everything ahead of time. Also, we enjoy the table service experiences.

If you go with a dining plan, you have 3 options.

The first is Counter Service - which allows you 2 counter service meals per person, per day, along with snacks. This is a good dining plan to choose if you are on the go around the parks, and don't want to be held to reservations - which are needed if you go with the table service options. 

The second, and I would say the most popular dining plan, is the counter service/table service meal plan. You get 1 counter service meal, 1 table service meal, and 1 snack per person/per day. This is the plan that my husband and I usually pick. We usually pay out of pocket or use a snack credit for breakfast, grab a counter service meal for lunch, and use our table service credit for dinner. But you can use your credits for which ever meal you would like. 

The third option and the most indulgent is the dining plan plus plan. You get 3 table service meals along with snacks, per person, per day! My husband and I did this once and it was amazing experience. We like this plan option when we want to try some of the signature dining experience (those are table service restaurants that require 2 table service credits per person). 

It is my personal feeling that there is a savings when you go with a dining plan. If you intend to purchase the meals in the parks or at the resort, then you should plan on choosing a dining plan for your family because it will save you money in the longer run. If you do not plan on eating in the parks or at the resorts during your vacation, then a dining plan may not be an option for you. Later this month, I will share some tips on ways to save while eating at the parks and tips on how to bring your own meals and snacks.

One of the benefits with the Disney Dining Plan or the Deluxe Dining Plan is that you can use your table service credits for Character Dining Experiences!! Not only are the meals fantastic, but you also get one on one time with the characters. With the exception of dining at Cinderella's Round Table, all the character dining experiences are 1 table service credit. This is important to remember because if you choose a dining plan, you will not be able to use your credits for character meals if you chose the Counter Service Plan. And also an important note, Cinderella's Round Table is a signature dining experience and will take up 2 table service credits per person.

The Character Dining Experiences are a must in my opinion. It is a great way to see the characters, and get the autographs, without having to wait in what can be massive lines inside the parks. For example, you can see Mickey and the gang at Chef Mickey! Or you can see The Princesses at Akerhaus at the Norway Pavillion in Epcot. Your little prince or princess or pirate will be able to meet their favorite character, and you will get a great meal too! There are 12 character dining experiences to choose from - either in the parks or at the resorts. Just remember, if you plan on dining inside the parks,  you will need park admission for that day.

Happy Planning!

Daily Disney Planning Tip

How do you know what tickets to get???

This is a big question when planning your trip to Walt Disney World. To insure that you don't buy too many or too few tickets into the theme park, and you get exactly the experience you want, you need to plan.

First step is to sit down with a calendar and ask yourself, "How many days will we be on vacation?". After this is determined, ask yourself the following:

Do you plan on going into the theme parks on your travel days, the days you arrive and depart?

Do you want to go to the theme parks every day or do you want to a day to just relax at the resort or explore Downtown Disney?

Once you have decided the number of days you need, you now need to decide what kind of experience you want to have. So ask yourself the following:

Do we want to stay at one park all day or have the option to "park hop" so you can go to any park at any time during that day? If you want the option to "park hop", you will want to add the Park Hopper option onto your tickets.

Do you plan on spending any time at the water parks or Disney Quest? If so you, you may want to consider adding the Water Park and More option onto your tickets. 

And finally, the last question you ask yourself is, "Do you plan on returning to Walt Disney and think you many not use all the tickets you purchased?" If you think this might be an option, you will want to add the "No Expiration" option onto your tickets.

These tickets are called Magic Your Way tickets because you choosing the tickets that are best for you and your family. For my husband and I when we travel to Walt Disney World, we always choose the Park Hopper option. We opt to decline the no expiration option because we plan our trip in such detail that we know which days we will be where, so we get only the number of tickets we need. We also opt to decline the Water Park and more option. If we choose to go to a water park during our visit, then we just pay the daily ticket price for the water park.

Happy Planning!

Daily Disney Planning Tip

Now that you have decided that Yes! We are going to Disney World and you know when you will be going you still have a big decision to make. One of the biggest decisions when planning a trip to Disney World is deciding on which Vacation Package you should choose for your family.

Tickets into the theme park can be purchased separately or as part of a vacation package. And there are many vacation packages to choose from. Your vacation package will include your Walt Disney World resort room reservations, your tickets, as well as giving you the option to add on a dining plan. If you are staying on the WDW property, I highly recommend going with a vacation package which includes the tickets and dining. This type of travel experience is not for everyone, but this is what I recommend to all my friends and family when they are planning a trip to Disney World.  The vacation packages are called Magic Your Way Vacation Packages! So lets get to planning the Magic, your way!!

Happy Planning!

March Calendar

International Pancake Day

Celebrate International Pancake Day today!
The International House of Pancakes

All ages. 7 a.m. - 10 p.m. Celebrate National Pancake Day with a free short stack of pancakes, and make a donation to the Children's Miracle Network. International House of Pancakes, DC, MD & VA. (see ihoppancakeday.com for additional information and locations)

March Magic

For the month of March, I will be posting a Disney Planning Tip of the day!

To begin, the biggest thing to know about planning a trip to Walt Disney World is that you can not plan enough. It will be the most magical trip filled with memories but there is a lot to see. So where do you begin? First, start with the Who, What, Where, When and Why.

Who is going on this Disney Trip?

What is your family vacation budget?

Where do you want to stay?(Do you plan on staying at a Disney Resort?)

When do you plan on traveling?

Why are you traveling at this time? (Are you celebrating something fun and exciting?)


Happy Planning!

Get Ready! Get Set! READ!!

Let's Read Together!

Join Read Across America!

On February 26, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., bring the children to your local Target store to enjoy giveaways, coupons and hear Dr. Seuss favorites.


Here is a fun activity to do to celebrate Dr. Seuss and Reading!

It's game time!

Cat, Cat, Hat!

(also known as Duck, Duck, Goose)

Have all the children sit in a circle. Have a grown-up start the game. Walk around the outside of
the circle and pat each child’s head saying, “Cat.” Then the grown-up should choose a child at
random and say, “Hat.” This child should get up and try to catch the grown-up before the adult
reaches the spot that the child got up from. If the child tags the grown-up, then the grown-up is out.
If the adult gets to the seat without being tagged, than the child starts over. For older children, you
can change the words they use — for example: Doctor, Doctor, Seuss


Or, color your own Cat in the Hat hat!

Or color your own Cat!

For other activites, please go to www.seussville.com.


So grab your favorite book and get out there and READ!

Family Fun Ways to Celebrate George Washington's Birthday!

Breakfast with George Washington | Mount Vernon Estate | February 19 & 20
Celebrate George Washington's birthday by joining the General for breakfast as he enjoys his favorite morning meal, "hoecakes swimming in butter and honey", cooked over an open fire (while supplies last). Following the breakfast sampler, families can participate in a "Surprise Birthday Party" for "General Washington" which includes rousing birthday cheers and a serenade, patriotic music and more. Breakfast 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m


George Washington Birthday Celebration Parade | February 21
The nation's largest George Washington birthday parade marches a one-mile route through the streets of Old Town Alexandria. With nearly 3,500 participants including historical groups, youth from scouting groups and animals, this is still a local, community parade in honor of one of the City's favorite sons. The parade starts at 1 p.m. at the intersection of Gibbon and S. Fairfax streets.

Are you looking for something to keep the kids busy while you watch the big game?

The Super Bowl can be fun for the whole family! Here are some things for the kids to do!

I found these helmets for kids to color at www.coloring-pages-book-for-kids-boys.com. So fun!

Or how about make a football player using paper plates!

Instructions for making a football player craft out of a paper plate.

• Age Guideline: 6 Years and Up
• Time Required: 30 minutes (Does not include drying time)

The above age and time guidelines are estimates. This project can be modified to suit other ages and may take more or less time depending on your circumstances.

Materials Needed:

• 2 Paper Plates
• Crayons, Markers, or Paint
• Cellophane Tape
• Scissors

Instructions:
Draw a face in the center of one paper plate. Color the top edge and sides whatever color you want the football helmet to be. Now, take the other paper plate and draw and cut out a football helmet face mask. Tape the face mask you cut out onto the bottom half of the paper plate you colored, and you have a football player in his helmet!

Or how about this football wreath! Use your teams colors for the hands!!

This is a simple cut and paste paper craft that even the youngest children can contribute too.  It's fun to make with the entire family or team each contributing handprints.

Materials:

• a printer,
• paper,
• glue,
• scissors,
   
• paint or construction paper in your favorite team's colours.

Instructions:

• There are two ways to do this craft. One is to trace the child's hand onto paper and cut out the prints. The second is to make paint handprints on the paper and cut those out. 
   
• Make eight handprints (4 of each colour).   (or more if you're feeling energetic)
   
• Cut out the prints and glue to form a wreath.
   
• You can decorate the wreath further with pictures (like footballs or football players).  These can be:
  • stickers!
  • hand drawn artwork by the children,
  • pictures from colouring books, magazines or fliers
    
    
    
     
    Have a safe and fun Super Bowl!!!!

Super Bowl treats that the kids can make!!!

• 3 tablespoons   butter or margarine
• 1 package   (10 oz., about 40) regular marshmallows
•    OR
• 4 cups  miniature marshmallows
• 1/2 cup   peanut butter
• 6 cups   Cocoa Rice Krispies®
•    Canned frosting or decorating gel

1. In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat. Stir in peanut butter until melted.

2. Add KELLOGG'S RICE KRISPIES cereal. Stir until well coated.

3. Cool slightly. Using buttered hands shape mixture into sixteen 3-inch footballs. Decorate with frosting. Best if served the same day.

MICROWAVE DIRECTIONS:

In microwave-safe bowl heat butter and marshmallows on HIGH for 3 minutes, stirring after 2 minutes. Stir until smooth. Add peanut butter, stirring until melted. Follow steps 2 and 3 above. Microwave cooking times may vary.

Note

For best results, use fresh marshmallows.

1 jar (7 oz.) marshmallow creme can be substituted for marshmallows.

Diet, reduced calorie or tub margarine is not recommended.

Store no more than two days at room temperature in airtight container. To freeze, place in single layer on wax paper in airtight container. Freeze for up to 6 weeks. Let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving.

February Calendar!!!

Get a $5 gift card for Target when you purchase Pampers

Hurry and stock up today. This offer is good from
2/1/2011 to 2/5/2011.
Offer available in Target stores only.

When you pick up any two of these Pampers items, get a $5 Target GiftCard* at your favorite Target store:

Swaddlers 52 ct to 92 ct Cruisers 48 ct to 80 ct Baby Dry 56 ct to 112 ct Easy Ups 54 ct to 68 ct

TUNE IN! TUNE IN!

The fantastic stamps from PSA Essential are going to be featured on HSN tomorrow! Tune into the Home Shopping Network tomorrow, February 1st, at 5 a.m. and 1 p.m.  PSA is selling for an AMAZING price!!!!! This is a great time to buy!  If you are looking for a Valentine's Day gift for your friends, family or teachers - this is a great opportunity!! If you are looking to expand your collection or are just getting started - this is a fantastic opportunity!  So tune in!!!!



And if you are not following yet, check out and follow PSA Stamp Camp!!

Just one weekend left!!!

January Storytelling Sessions at Mount Vernon

January 1 - 30, 2011 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM Hands-On History Room in the Donald W. Reynolds Education Center

Children enter a world of fantasy and fables when costumed interpreters weave three tales together during Mount Vernon’s storytelling session, “Once Upon a Time at Mount Vernon,” held every Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 p.m.and 3:00 p.m Storytelling sessions will take place in the Hands-On History Room in the Donald W. Reynolds Education Center. “Working Together” is the theme for January's storytelling sessions. During the 20-minute session, children learn Aesop’s fables and listen to stories about George Washington’s life! The storytelling program is recommended for children ages three to eight. Parental supervision is required.
“Once Upon at Time at Mount Vernon” is included in regular Estate admission: adults, $15.00; youth ages 6-11, $7.00; and children under 5 are admitted free.

Mark your calendars!

Mark your calendars! A great event at the Kennedy Center is coming!

February 3 - 5, 2011 at the Concert Hall

NSO Pops: Disney in Concert

 

Here is information on the concert from the Kennedy Center website.

Enjoy the magic music of Disney in Concert with the NSO Pops and guest conductor Michael Krajewski. Every new generation has a favorite Disney musical, whether it's The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Aladdin, or The Lion King. And then there are the classics, from a Mary Poppins medley to the "Yo ho" of Pirates of the Caribbean. When everyone joins together for memorable moments and sing-along melodies that Mouseketeers of all ages know by heart, it feels like a small world, after all. Program:

VARIOUS - Disney Classics Overture
	arr. Healey
MENKEN - The Little Mermaid Orchestral Suite
MENKEN - Pocahontas:"Colors of the Wind"
MENKEN - Beauty and the Beast Suite
	arr. Troob
SHERMAN - The Jungle Book: "I Wanna Be Like You"
	arr. van der Heijden
SHERMAN - Mary Poppins Medley
MENKEN - The Hunchback of Notre Dame Suite
	arr. Staroboin
MENKEN - Aladdin Medley
	arr. Troob
BADELT - Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
	arr. Ricketts
JOHN - The Lion King Suite
	arr. Kelley
SHERMAN - "It's a Small World"
	arr. Whitcomb

 Tickets start at $20. A great event for the entire family!!!

Snow Day?

Do you have a snow day today? Check out http://familyfun.go.com/ for some fun Snow Day activities!

Here are just a couple of the great ideas!

 Want to go outside and enjoy the snow?

There's no need to get cold feet about spending a winter day outdoors. Instead, bundle up and follow your kids to the nearest drift for a snow pile of fun. Here are seven winter games to get your family started.

JUMP SNOW HURDLES

Lightly pack a bunch of basketball-size snowballs and then use them to build a course of hurdles to jump over in a round of follow the leader.

ROPE TOW

Team up for a slip-sliding variation of tug-of-war. Tamp down a wide, shallow trench in the snow to serve as the midline. Then, take up positions at the ends of a long, thick rope and let the tugging and towing begin. Whichever team pulls the entire opposing group over to its side of the trench wins.

FLAG IN A SNOW STACK

Tie a white cloth to the end of a short stick or around the bowl of a wooden spoon. Then, give each child a chance to hide it by staking it anywhere within a predetermined set of boundaries. Keep track of how long it takes for the rest of the group to find it. Whoever hid the flag that takes the longest time to spot wins the game.

STRIKE OUT

For this pitching contest, first mound up snow to create three bases and a pitcher's mound. They should each be about 2 feet high and 20 feet apart. Next, build a tin can pyramid on each base. The challenge is to knock down the stacks in order from first to third base by throwing snowballs from the pitcher's mound. The child who succeeds with the fewest pitches wins.

HAT TRICK

Once you've built a plump, frosty snowman to stand sentry in your front yard, make a game of topping him off in style. Take turns trying to land a hat on his head by throwing it Frisbee style from 10 or so feet away.

GET ON A ROLL

Pair up for a contest in which the object is to finish with the biggest snowball. The contest ends when the teams can no longer roll their entries or when you run out of snow.

POWDER-PUFF FOOTBALL

All you need are two teams of three or more people to play, along with a spray bottle filled with a mix of water and food coloring to mark the playing field (a large rectangle with a centerline should suffice). The teams line up at opposite ends of the field (the North and South poles) for a kickoff. Once someone on the receiving team catches the ball, he tries to move it back across the defense's goal line by running with it or passing it to a teammate. Play stops if the person with the ball is tagged by an opponent or slides out of bounds. The teams then face off again on the spot. After four tries, or a touchdown, the ball goes to the other team. The game ends when either team gets cold. For more winter fun,try out these seven Ice Games.

Want to stay inside?

Make Homemade Snow Dough!

Ages: 18 months and up

Your kids don't have to wait for an actual snow day to have some wintry fun. Just whip up a batch of this sparkling white play dough. Younger tots will enjoy squishing the clay, while older siblings might like using small twigs, dried beans, and tiny carrot sticks to create Frosty and pals. Other useful props: cupcake wrappers, colorful beads, paper drink umbrellas, egg carton cups, and snowflake cookie cutters.

Materials

• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup salt
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

• 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 2 tablespoons white tempera paint
• 1 tablespoon white or iridescent glitter
• A few drops of peppermint extract (optional)

1. To make a batch, combine all of the ingredients except the peppermint extract (if using) in a medium-size pan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture holds together, about 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat.
   
2. Turn the play dough onto a waxed paper–lined counter to cool, about 15 minutes. If you like, knead in peppermint extract for a festive holiday scent. Store the cooled play dough in a ziplock bag in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
   
   
   

And of course! Don't forget to enjoy some hot cocoa!!!!! (And maybe your favorite Disney Movie!)

Adorable Valentine's Day Craft

So, do you ever wonder what to do with those empty Kleenex boxes? How about making a Valentine Monster! Or a kitty? Check out this adorable craft idea found on Disney Family Fun!  Such a great idea!! Happy Crafting!!!

Materials

• FOR THE ALIEN MONSTER:
• Solid-color tissue box
• Glue
• Felt
• Card stock
• Pipe cleaners

• Pen
• 1-1/2-inch-wide googly eyes
• FOR THE CAT:
• Cat template
• Wire
• 1-inch-wide googly eyes

 

Instructions

For the Alien Monster, glue soft felt teeth inside the box's opening and a card-stock heart nose just above. Curl two pipe cleaners into springs by wrapping them around a pen, then glue a 1-1/2-inch-wide googly eye to the end of each spring. Insert the other ends through the box and secure them with tape inside.

To make the cat, glue a card-stock forehead, ears, and tail to the box. (Download our templates for these shapes.) Use glue to attach thin wire whiskers, a heart-shaped card-stock nose, and 1-inch-wide googly eyes.
http://familyfun.go.com/assets/cms/pdf/crafts/FF0210EF-chewcard.pdf

My first projects posted on PSA Stamp Camp!

I'm so excited!!! My first projects for PSA Stamp Camp have been published on the blog!! Here is a glimpse of the project!

Please check out the entire collection at:

http://psastampcamp.blogspot.com/2011/01/switchable-middles.html


Enjoy!!!! I totally want a cupcake now!!!