Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in Washington, DC

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A Family Happy Hour Featuring Rocknoceros and The Great Zucchini

June 26, 2009

In honor of planning ahead for the month of July, check your calendar and get your tickets for A Family Happy Hour at the 9:30 Club featuring Rocknoceros and The Great Zucchini. The show will be on Sunday, July 19 with doors opening at 2:30 pm. Advance tickets are available for $15 by clicking here.

As you know, we are huge Rocknoceros fans and I’ve been wanting to catch The Great Zucchini ever since I read about him in The Washington Post Magazine last year. Due to the popularity of both performers, I am sure that this show will sell out!

Bugs Bunny and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

by Leticia

June 22, 2009

Yes, you read that correctly! On Saturday, July 11 the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra will perform Bugs Bunny on Broadway at Merriweather Post Pavillion. The concert will feature Warner Brother’s Studio cartoons on big screens while their original film scores are performed live by the BSO. “Bugs Bunny on Broadway” is the perfect way to introduce your child to classical music through classic Warner Brothers cartoons and favorite characters like Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd, Daffy Duck, Road Runner, Wile E. Coyote, and Porky Pig.

This unique concert will feature musical masterpieces of Wagner, Rossini, Strauss, Tchaikovsky, and others, as interpreted through the “hare-raising” cartoon scores of legendary Warner Bros. Studios composers Carl Stalling and Milt Franklyn, in such iconic Looney Tunes as “What's Opera, Doc?,” “The Rabbit of Seville,” “Corny Concerto,” “Baton Bunny,” “Long-Haired Hare,” “High Note,” and many more.

Bugs Bunny on Broadway made its debut at The Gershwin Theatre in New York City in 1990. Now almost two million people worldwide have seen this concert in performances with the world’s greatest orchestras. It has been called “hilarious” by The New York Times and “spectacular" by The New York Post.

Click here to get your tickets to Bugs Bunny on Broadway through TicketMaster. It isn’t too early to get your tickets. The performances have often sold out in other venues around the country and world!

Details: Bugs Bunny on Broadway

Saturday, July 11 at 8:30 pm

Merriweather Post Pavillion

10475 Little Patuxent Parkway

Columbia, MD 21044

Directions

The National Zoo's Guppy Gala!

by Leticia

June 08, 2009

Who doesn’t love the National Zoo? With plenty of room to run, the excitement of visiting favorite animals, and free admission, this treasure is one of our go-to places any time of the year. We also love their special events like Boo at the Zoo, the winter light display known as Zoo Lights, and look forward to the upcoming Guppy Gala.

This year’s Guppy Gala is being held on Friday, June 12 from 6:00-8:30 pm and is going to be 2 ½ hours of pure fun. This annual family event is a fundraiser that supports animal care, conservation science, education and sustainability at the National Zoo. It features animal encounters, tasty food, and a variety of spectacular activities such as a mock construction site, rock climbing walls, obstacle courses, mazes, jugglers, gymnasts, musicians, and other live entertainment.

This year ticket prices have been discounted to make them more affordable for families to attend and since you are supporting the National Zoo, all but $5 for each ticket you buy is tax deductible!

I can’t think of a better way to support one of our favorite family places than to buy a ticket to the Guppy Gala! The whole family will have a fabulous time and come next tax season, you will have a nice deduction thanks to your ticket purchase.

See you at the Guppy Gala!

Visit the Guppy Gala site for more information and to access the link to purchase tickets.

Guppy Gala event details:

Friday, June 12, 6:00-8:30 pm
Tickets: Tickets are needed for everyone over the age of 2. Cost for FONZ members- $15, nonmembers- $25
Parking: Passes can be requested with your ticket purchase. 1 pass can be requested if 1-5 tickets are purchased and 2 passes can be requested if 6+ tickets are purchased.

Jazz ?N Family Fun Days at the Phillips Collection

by Leticia

June 01, 2009

If you are looking to add the arts into the coming weekend, head to the Phillips Collection for Jazz ‘N Families Fun Days. In partnership with the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival, live jazz performances will fill the museum on June 6-7 to celebrate jazz and the visual arts. In the galleries art inspires musical interpretation as musicians interpret art through improvised sound and families visit the instrument petting zoo to interact with instruments. Children will also have the opportunity to listen to a storyteller and create their own art while being in the intimate setting of the Phillips Collection and surrounded by masterpieces by Renoir, Pablo Picasso, Georgia O’Keefe, Marc Rothko, and many others.

Jazz ‘N Families Fun Day is part of the annual Dupont-Kalorama Museum Walk Weekend. As part of the weekend’s festivities, you can visit other museums located in Dupont Circle and the Kalorama neighborhood that will have family programming and free admission.

Jazz ‘N Families Fun Day- Presented by the Phillips Collection

Saturday, June 6, 10 am - 5 pm  

Click here for the full Saturday schedule and don’t miss Alona Lee’s incredible performance at the Phillips Collection at 10:00 am!

Sunday, June 7, 11 am - 6 pm

Click here for the Sunday Duke Ellington Jazz Festival schedule.

Weekend Update

by Beth Hoffman

May 28, 2009

Ah, Spring has sprung and the mosquitoes have not. I think that makes this the perfect weekend to get outside. Check out the following local events:

Friday Night Live! Summer Concert Series - Every Friday until August 28th from 6:30 to 10:00 at the Herndon Town Green (777 Lynn Street). This Friday features Black Sheep and next week is Burnt Sienna. Food and drinks are for sale during the shows.

How Plants Work, A Guide to Being Green - This ongoing exhibit at the U.S. Botanic Garden. It is hands-on and targeted for kids, but I think the moms and dads will enjoy it as well.

Walking Town DC - This Saturday and Sunday, Cultural Tourism DC is sponsoring 120 free walking tours around the city. Check out their website for full details and the schedule.

Night at Mount Vernon - May 29-31 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Watch the sunset from the lantern lit grounds and interact with historical re-enactors. Tickets are required, see the website for more information.

Artomatic 2009 - The 10th anniversary of this event opens May 29th and last until July 5 (closed Mondays and Tuesdays) at 55 M St. SE. This month-long art festival is free to the public. Read more...

Merrifield Garden Center

by Beth Hoffman

May 23, 2009

Ah, Spring, when a young suburbanite's fancy turns to thoughts of mulch. Do you constantly smell like mulch these days, even three showers past your last stint in the garden, or is that just me? Last weekend, to get a break from the weeding and the mulching, we went to the garden center to buy some new plants for all those bare spots that were formerly covered by weeds. We had a two-year-old gift certificate to Merrifield Garden Center, so we decided to head over there and put it to use. We went to the new place near Fair Oaks, not the original in Merrifield. And wow, this place blows my regular nursery out of the water.

We had both kids with us, of course, and they had a blast. The toddler was in the backpack, saying hello to all of our fellow patrions, and straining for handfuls of any plant I got him too close to. The preschooler ran all over the place admiring the plants, debating the best azalea colors, helping me pick tomatoes based entirely on their pictures and/or funny names, and getting an impromptu education on the difference between annuals and perennials, evergreen and deciduous, indoor and outdoor plants, and why in the heck we needed all that mulch anyway.

I never thought a trip to the nursery with the kids would be anything but a hassle, but it was actually a lot of fun to go through all the plants with the kids, and Merrifield was a great place to do it. It's huge, well organized, well stocked, and has plenty of wagons to dump the kids in when they get tired of tearing up and down the rows of rhododendrons. So brush up on your plant identification skills, or just keep a sharp eye out for the tags, and take the kids to the garden center for a free field trip and ecology or biology lesson.
Read more...

Herndon Festival 2009

by Beth Hoffman

May 21, 2009

The Herndon Festival is coming! Mark your calendars for Thursday, May 28 - Sunday, May 31. This year, the festival will feature:

Live Entertainment on Three Stages
Carnival Rides and Games
Fireworks Displays on Thursday and Saturday
Arts & Crafts Show including a Fine Arts Division
Children's Entertainment
Children's Hands-On Art Activities
Business Exposition
10k & 5k Races (at the Herndon Community Center)
K9 2-K & Doggie Expo (at the Herndon Community Center)
Model Railway Exhibit
International Foods

Plus entertainmant:

Thursday -The Legwarmers, Ruthie Foster, and Eric Scott

Friday - Lenka, Luke Brindley, and Leaving Texas

Saturday Night - Glen Burtnik and Gandalf Murphy & the Slambovian Circus of Dreams

Sunday - Fat Ammons Band and Still Surfin'

and on Saturday & Sunday family-friendly entertainers during the day.

Now, the first time I went to the Herndon Festival was many years ago by pure accident, when we ordered a pizza to pick up from the middle of Herndon and didn't realize the festival would make getting there and back almostimpossible. In the hours it took us to retrieve dinner, I got a good look at all the goings-on. Lots fun for the whole family , even the littlest ones. Be sure to park and take advantage of the shuttles so you don't repeat my pizza debacle. Shuttles stop at Worldgate Shopping Center and Herndon High School.

Ice Cream and Entertainment

by Beth Hoffman

May 20, 2009

Now that the weather is occasionally warmer, a lot of preschooler energy in my house has been directed to two things: when the neighborhood pool will open, and when we can go out for ice cream. Really, my daughter prefers the ice cream man to heading out to an ice cream parlor, but the ice cream man who cruises our neighborhood has a truck that plays "La Cucaracha," and I have a hard time buying food from any place that so blatantly advertises cockroaches. So during the summer, we sometimes venture out to one of the many local ice cream shops. Now, when I was a kid growing up in Northern Virginia, you had Baskin Robbins and you liked it. There were none of this Ben and Jerry's, Cold Stone, Milwaukee Frozen Custard, etc., options. We've tried them all, and we always end up at the same place.

We go to the Baskin Robbins at North Point in Reston. Not because if the ice cream, which is fine, always makes the kids happy, whatever, but because of the entertainment. When the weather is warm, the plaza in front of the store is the frequent haunt of a man with a friendly dog and a bird (I think it is a cockatoo) who wears a cape and a helmet and rides around the shopping center on an RC car. My daughter is mad for both the dog and the bird and always holds long conversations with both whenever she sees them. We get to have all sorts of interesting conversations with her, starting with why she should avoid strange animals, of course, but then touching on animal training and positive reinforcement and the sometimes very subtle differences between pets and wild animals.

So the next time you are in the market for a family ice cream outing, stop by Reston and check out the floor show. And if you see me, be sure to say hello. I'll be the one with strawberry ice cream in my hair. (Neither child has mastered the concept of a napkin.) Read more...

Child Friendly Bethesda Row is Fun for the Whole Family

by Leticia

May 11, 2009

Looking for a place that has stylish shopping, great dining options, and boasts child friendly spaces with room to run can be a tall order. Recently we’ve found that Bethesda Row delivers all of the above.

With an impressive list of restaurants that can delight foodies, Bethesda Row’s restaurants are also places where parents with children can feel comfortable going with their kids for a nice evening out. Most restaurants, including Austin Grill, Levante’s, Mon Ami Gabi, Café Deluxe, Cosi, Le Pain Quoitdien, Lebanese Taverna, and Raku feature outdoor seating. We love being able to eat al fresco not only for the fresh air, but also because minimizes parental embarrassment since the birds tend to clean up puddle of rice or pile of crumbs left underneath our kids’ seats.

With no shortage of stroller traffic on Bethesda Row streets, store owners are used to parents who bring their kids in to browse while they shop. The newly expanded Apple Store has 4 computers on a low table with round seats for children to test outkid friendly software titles while mom and dad browse. Out of all the large bookstores, I’ve found that the Bethesda Barnes and Noble has the most knowledgeable staff in the children’s section and the most organized collection of books. The enticing window displays of Tugooh Toys/Yiro Children’s Clothing on Bethesda Avenue reveals a children’s paradise upon setting foot inside.

The collection of shops and restaurants may be called Bethesda Row but include an area larger than a city block which allows for plenty of walking and running between stores. The uneven cobblestone walkway that passes by stores like Lucy, Cacao, Le Creuset and Redwood Restaurant and Bar is a safe place for kids to run since it is protected from traffic. Just watch the windows at Redwood if they are open since the bottom corners of the many windows stick out and are about the height of a three year old’s forehead! There’s also a great park kitty-corner from Lebanese Taverna and across the street from the newly renovated Giant Food Store

There are also many other kid-friendly stops along the way. Barnes and Noble boosts a stage with weekly story times, plentiful floor space for cuddling up with a book, and a train set which is always popular. The fountain outside the Barnes and Noble is perfect for exploring the properties of water or watching birds dust off their feathers. Or run to the other side of the block to find a fountain where water runs over cups and plates with a Winnie the Pooh quote encircling it.

Bethesda Row is west of Wisconsin Avenue, between Bradley Boulevard and Old Georgetown Road. Click here for directions.

For a list of child friendly dinner time destinations, come back tomorrow for my Tuesday List which will give a rundown of the many ethnic eateries in Bethesda. Friday’s post will feature the best places to roam in Bethesda to work out those pre and post meal wiggles.

Weekend Picks: Fun, Free Family Fun!

by Leticia

April 23, 2009

Nothing to do this weekend? Other than getting outside and enjoying the beautiful spring weather we are supposed to have after the last few rainy days, here are my weekend picks for some great free family fun.

Maryland Day

Saturday 10-4 pm
University of Maryland, College Park

This popular free family friendly event is UMD’s open house that is filled with learning, exploration, and fun. Choose activities among the various themes: Science & Tech Way, Arts Alley, Sports & Rec Row, Biz & Society Hill, Terp Town Center, Ag Day Avenue, and Global Village. UMD will have over 400 hands on activities, workshops, events, and performances so there will be something to please everyone in your family. Click here for a list of events especially designed for kids.

Celebrate Earth Day with the Montgomery County Division of Solid Waste Services

Saturday 11-3 pm
850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, MD 20850

Catch a bus every 15 minutes to tour the county’s recycling center, get a free Leafgro and compost bin, make Earth Friendly crafts, bring your jeans and other denim clothing to repurpose into home insulation, bring your personal documents for on site shredding, and learn more about environmentall friendly homes, recycling and waste reduction, and purchasing recycled products.

Grand Opening of National Children’s Museum Launch Zone

Saturday, April 25, and Sunday, April 26, 2009, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m
NCM Launch Zone, 112 Waterfront Street, National Harbor, MD 20745

Open to the public seven days a week, the Launch Zone is a place where children can prototype exhibit components and programs, share their ideas about what should be included in the new Museum, and participate in fun and educational programs related to the Museum’s core content areas. On Saturday festivities will feature recycled art activities, face painting, chalk art, food, and an original, interactive performance by the Museum, The Adventures of Wally the Water Bottle. Performances will take place at 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. On Sunday, April 26, the celebration continues with recycled and chalk art activities, face painting, balloon creations, treats, and a special performance – Sea Revels – by cultural performance organization, the Washington Revels. Performances will take place at the Main Stage at National Harbor at 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Tuesday List: Family Friendly Ways to Enjoy Thomas Jefferson's Monticello

by Leticia

April 14, 2009

Living in DC, we are exposed to plenty of history and museums so you might wonder why you would want to venture beyond the Metro Area to explore other presidential digs. Being in close proximity to Mount Vernon and the White House creates presidential intrigue so head south on a road trip to Charlottesville to visit Monticello.

Last weekend we took our two children, ages 5 and 2 1/2 years, to visit Thomas Jefferson's estate and it proved to be a wonderful place for young children. There are lots of things you can do before you go to give your children some background knowledge about the kinds of things they will see and do. During your visit there are numerous ways that your children can learn about Thomas Jefferson in an age appropriate way.

Here are some ways that you can enjoy Monticello and make the most of your time there.

Before you go:

Download Exploring Monticello: A Guide for Young Learners and share it with your children. This booklet is more like a picture book that designed to teach interesting facts about Thomas Jefferson, the gadgets and gizmos he invented and enjoyed using, the kinds of music and games played at Monticello, the grounds, and architecture. The booklet makes it easy for young children to understand and early elementary age kids to read independently. Reading it prior to your trip will allow your children to have a better understanding of what they will see when they get there.
Take a virtual tour using the Monticello Explorer that allows your to walk through 3-D models of the interior of the home, read about what is inside each room, view animated features, and use an interactive map of the plantation.
Check out the calendar for Events for Kids which list the dates of the Plantation Community Weekends where the sights and sounds of the early 19th century come to life on Mulberry Row, the plantation “street” along which Monticello slaves lived and labored. Costumed artisans interpret the trades and domestic skills practiced by Jefferson's enslaved and free workers.

During your visit:

Take a Family Friendly Tour- From June to September, Monticello offers Family Friendly tours that are included in the price of admission. These special 30 minute tours feature hands-on opportunities in each room and provide a glimpse of what live was like at Monticello for the children that lived there in the late 1700s and early 1800s. If you happen to visit when the Family Friendly Tours aren’t being offered, our 2 ½ year old and 5 year old enjoyed the regular tour which is also 30 minutes in length.
Visit the Griffin Discovery Room- This new hands on learning center is specially designed for children to interact with American history, Thomas Jefferson, those who lived and worked at Monticello, and experience life as a child during the early 1800s. The Discovery Room features many elements that are reproduced from Jefferson’s Monticello home like the alcove bed and thee nail-making shop and a slave dwelling on the plantation. Children can engage in numerous activities including trying on clothes, practicing weaving, rubbing a replica of Jefferson’s tombstone, relaxing with a story about Thomas Jefferson or another American president, using a cipher wheel, or cooking a meal over a pretend fire. Some of our favorite features of the Griffin Discovery Room included the polygraph machine that allowed us to see how Jefferson was able to make a copy of everything he wrote and the collection of wooden blocks where our 5 year old practiced classical architecture.
Play I Spy inside the house by searching for items of a certain theme. Look for famous portraits hanging on Thomas Jefferson’s walls, artifacts that indicate an interest in time, or items that are from animals.
Visit the Mountaintop Hands-On Activity Center. Open from early June to September, the Activity Center allows children to write with a quill pen, play 18th century games, and engage in other family-oriented hands-on activities which is included in the price of admission.
Roam the gardens and look for familiar flowers and herbs by rubbing the leaves between your fingers.

For more tips on visiting Monticello, visit their page of Insiders’ Tips.

For tips on visiting Charlottesville with your family, read my Being Savvy Washington DC post called Weekend Getaway: Charlottesville, Virginia for the inside scoop on family friendly things to see and do and our favorite places to grab a bite to eat.

Weekend Getaway: Charlottesville, Virginia

by Leticia

April 13, 2009

If you are craving to get away from the Beltway, politics, and enjoy some different scenery, head a couple hours south to Charlottesville. Charlottesville is known as the home of the University of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, James Monroe’s Ash Lawn Highland, and Michie Tavern. While it best known as a college town that is filled with history, Charlottesville is also a family friendly place with plenty of fabulous food and room to run that makes a wonderful weekend getaway or even a day trip.

Here’s a quick guide of some things to do when in the Charlottesville area:

Room to Run:

Right around UVAs Rotunda is a wide expanse of grass perfect for a game of Frisbee, bubble blowing, kite flying, or just plain roaming. Off to the sides of the grass are some fabulous old trees with low branches that are just right for climbing.
At the end of the Downtown Mall by the Visitor’s Center is a large amphitheater with a large stage. Our kids loved running up and down the aisles, between the chairs, and up the ramp to the stage.
There are also numerous parks in Charlottesville. For the locations and details about the city parks, click here.

Things to See:

If you want to integrate a little history lesson into your visit to Charlottesville, head to Monticello. Home to Thomas Jefferson, Monticello boasts many amenities that make it family friendly. Skilled guides tell you everything you need to know about President Jefferson’s home in 30 minutes, which is the perfect length for those 6 and under. Make sure to allocate plenty of time for roaming the grounds and gardens. Monticello also boasts a brand new visitor’s center complete with a café, hands-on Griffin Discovery Room for children, and family restrooms. For a list of family friendly activities at Monticello, come back tomorrow when I cover it as a Tuesday List topic.
The Virginia Discovery Museum is the perfect place for the 10 and under set. With plenty of hands on exhibits to delight kids, wallet friendly admission ($4 per person), and in and out privileges, this is a must do. For rates and hours, click here. Also know that the first Sunday of the month is pay-as-you-wish day!
Right in front of the Discovery Museum is a great chalk wall for channeling your inner artist and a 1920 push carousel. The scaled down carousel is more like a merry go round because parents have to push their kids but it is a fun free ride that our kids didn’t want to leave!

Cheap Must Eats:

On the Downtown Mall, stop at Christian’s Pizza whose tasty flavor combinations on the most crisp crust remind me of true New York pizza.
On the back side of the Downtown Mall is The Flat (closed Sundays and Mondays) which serves huge sweet and savory crepes. My pick is the ham, brie, and apples but you can choose one of their flavor combinations or create your own.
Located in the shopping area known as the Corner (across the street from the Rotunda) Arch’s frozen yogurt serves up delicious flavor combinations.
For snacks and other restaurants, stop anywhere on 29 which you took into Charlottesville to find Whole Foods, Kroger’s Grocery, Giant, and lots of restaurants.

Tuesday List: Best Tricycle and Bicycle Paths

by Leticia

March 17, 2009

With spring almost here, it is time to dust off our bikes and trikes, strap on our helmets, and get riding once again. We are lucky that there are a multitude of paved trails with easy terrain and plenty of gorgeous scenery.

Beginning bike riders who are still adjusting to 2 wheels or trike enthusiasts will appreciate the circuits below because of the smooth paved terrain. The trails below tend not to be overcrowded so beginning riders won’t down by over enthusiastic adults ringing bells at them to move. The short trails won’t completely tire out little legs unless those legs are like those of the Energizer bunny.

Meadowbrook Community Park- The ride from the Meadowbrook Stables to Candy Cane City (Chevy Chase, MD) is a great circuit that can take as long or as little time as you wish. Visit the horses, ride to Candy Cane City to play, hop back on and continue through the tennis courts, and over the little bridge before heading back. Bring a snack or a picnic lunch and eat anywhere along the way.
General Getty Park- Tucked away in a little neighborhood in Silver Spring off of Georgia Avenue just outside the Beltway, Getty Park has a fabulous little loop for beginning riders. The loop goes between two separate play areas and around a small hill. Kids can also wheel on over to the gazebo just a short distance from the riding track.
Sligo Creek Parkway Trail- There are numerous parks along Sligo Creek Parkway in Silver Spring which make it a great place to ride. The trail is completely paved and surrounded by trees, making it a shady spot for a cool ride on a hot summer day. Bring along a pair of water shoes and dip your toes in the creek or stop at one of the many playgrounds along the way. Also be sure to look in the woods as you ride since deer can be spotted throughout the day.

The trails below are best for confident bike riders who aren’t afraid of fast moving bicycles ridden by adults and can handle a longer ride.

Capital Crescent Trail- While this trail runs from Georgetown to Bethesda, my favorite part begins in Downtown Bethesda by the Barnes and Noble. Park in the parking garage or the adjacent lot and head south. Stop at the playground about a mile down on the right and head back or keep going. This trail is incredibly popular and fast moving cyclists use it throughout the year. Heading into Georgetown you have a slight advantage of going downhill the entire way from Bethesda.

BWI Trail- Got some time to kill between picking a loved one up at the airport? Throw the bikes in the car and check out this new trail. While the entire trail is 11 miles long, you can do a section of it and then take a rest to watch for planes overhead until that flight arrives.

Mount Vernon Trail- This is an incredibly scenic trail that is on the other side of the Potomac from Washington DC. I love the stretch that goes by the monuments and ends at Gravelly Point, just by National Airport. The more ambitious riders can take this path all the way to Alexandria. Be sure to take a list of Metro stops with you if you take this trail since you can put your bike and tired selves on the Metro to head home when everyone is exhausted!

Cookology Cooking Classes for Kids

by Beth Hoffman

March 12, 2009

On my way from here to there yesterday, I ran into Dulles Town Center Mall in search of Easter outfits for the kids and noticed a slightly out of place looking storefront called Cookology . A few minutes of googling later, and I am in love with this place where I have, admittedly, never been. It bills itself as a "recreational culinary school" and offers cooking classes for all age groups. There's a Mommy and Me series for 3-5 year olds, classes for 4-6 year olds, 5-8 year olds, tweens and teens. They offer adult classes too, along with wine and beer tastings and an ettiquette class dubbed "The Art of Mingling."

The place seems to be brand new and I am hoping the schedule will fill out with some weekend classes for working parents or those who don't want to try to make rainbow cupcakes with their baby in a backpack or howling from his stroller. But the concept, at least, looks fabulous. The kid classes last an hour and cost $25, which seemed expensive to me until I thought about them supplying all the materials and all the clean up. If you had ever seen how far my three year old can scatter a cup of flour, you would agree that was totally reasonable. Each class focuses on one food, and most of the little kid classes deal with treats, but there are also classes focused on fruits instead of sugar.

Sounds like fun, and we will be checking it out soon. Read more...

Savvy Guests Share 5 Basic Boosts for Busy Parents From Two Spicy Moms

by Leticia

March 09, 2009

I know, I know, being a parent is tough. We're so focused on taking care of our children that sometimes we forget to take care of ourselves. Nutrition-wise, we often take the quick and easy way out -- a cookie here, a bag of chips there, a cup of coffee for breakfast, half of our children's mac-n-cheese at dinnertime . I'm as guilty as anyone. But what's a busy parent to do?

Today's guest posters, Bonnie Johnson and Deanna Segrave-Daly, serve up five great ways parents can maintain a healthy lifestyle even in the midst of all the childhood chaos. As registered dieticians, they know the ins and outs of good nutrition. Even more important, they are moms who understand that our busy, crazy schedules means we need quick, manageable solutions – and all the help we can get.

Kick Up Your Heels - Don't make exercise a daunting chore. Have a 20-minute dance party with the kids. Everyone gets to pick one song. Try out different rhythms or steps like hula, cha-cha, the twist or the oldie-but-goodie chicken dance.

Faster Fruits- Often, we are so focused on getting our children to eat healthy, we forget about ourselves (sound familiar?) And most of us need to at least double our daily dose of fruit. So, instead of trying to count that strawberry cheesecake as a serving, try:

1/2 cup applesauce - Add a dash of cinnamon and/or nutmeg
1 can of trim® Juice drink - New from Tree Top, one can counts as a 1/2 cup of fruit serving and comes in yum flavors like Mango Peach and Strawberry Kiwi)
1/4 cup dried fruit - Try tossed into cereal, over a salad or eaten on the go

Satiety is the new buzzword in healthy eating-it's that feeling of satisfaction after a meal or snack. It makes sense - if you are satisfied longer, you won't scarf down those extra calories you really don't need (like the remnants of junior's PB&J.) Fiber has great satiating power. Shoot for getting more fiber by choosing cereals with five grams or more fiber per serving, tossing a can of beans into a pasta dish, having a small bowl of popcorn or enjoying a single serve can of trim® which has three grams of fiber per serving.

Get Some Extra Zs - That's sounds dreamy but how do you get your head on the pillow when you are multitasking long after the kids are in bed? Research shows that a good night sleep can reduce stress, improve your memory and even increase your success at weight loss. While experts recommend at least 8 hours a night, start by going to bed just 15 minutes early. Do that every night for a month - and see how you feel (and if you can up it another 15 minutes.) And yes, this is one of Deanna's New Year's resolutions.

Cover Your Bases - As dietitians, we recommend getting your vitamins and minerals from food first. But as moms, we know you can't have it all. Add a basic multivitamin to your morning routine just to be sure. But remember, it's called a supplement because it SUPPLEMENTS your diet (rather than replaces food) - and really, we're all about keeping as much tasty and healthy food in your diet as possible!)

Meadowside Nature Center for Birthdays and Indoor Play

by Leticia

January 23, 2009

Sometimes planning a practical birthday party means having it outside your home. But where can you go that isn't booked almost a year in advance and won't cost the month's mortgage? I'm a huge fan of county facilities. Here in Montgomery County our swimming pools, ice rinks, parks, and recreation and nature centers are top notch and inexpensive compared to other party places because our tax Read more...

Musical Holiday Traditions

by Beth Hoffman

December 19, 2008

We are a musical family. My husband is happiest with a guitar in his hands and I tend to sing all day long without even noticing that I am doing it. The children seem to be taking after us. They both love their father's guitars and the piano, my three year old daughter sings and dances from the moment she wakes up in the morning until she falls asleep at night, and even the baby is starting Read more...

Cooking up some holiday memories in the kitchen

by Leticia

December 12, 2008

I come from a family that loves to cook. Holidays are an especially memorable time because of the favorite dishes that I've come to associate with each occasion and Christmas is all about cookies. Each year we made many different kinds of Christmas cookies that filled the house with the warmsmell of baking. Snickerdoodles rolled in red and green sugar, white powdered Russian tea cakes, brown Read more...

Teddy Bear Tea at the Ritz Carlton Pentagon City

by Beth Hoffman

December 04, 2008

Last week, I went with my three-year-old, my mom, my mother-in-law, my sister-in-law and my niece to tea at the Ritz Carlton in Pentagon City. And it was lovely. The kids got kid-friendly finger sandwiches and pots of hot chocolate, the adults could choose sandwiches and sweets or scones (I went with the scones, but the sandwiches and sweets tray looked yummy) and got their own pots of tea. Read more...

Homemade Lift-the-Flap Books

by Beth Hoffman

November 06, 2008

A couple of years ago, my brilliant friend Elaine sent my daughter a book that has been one of her prized possessions ever since. It is a homemade life-the-flap book where all the flaps open to reveal family pictures. My daughter still gets a huge kick out of opening those flaps and announcing that it is a picture of her underneath, or Daddy, or Mommy. They are simple, if a Read more...

Books About Becoming an Older Sibling

by Leticia

September 11, 2008

Little Miss Techie was 2 when her little brother arrived. While she adored babies and was very excited about meeting her little brother, we hoped her sentiments towards him in utero would as strong as when he was born. To help prepare her for the addition of a sibling, we read numerous books about babies. With my daughter's help, I culled through our book basket to find our favorite books about Read more...

Get Away Without Getting Too Far Away

by Leticia

July 16, 2008

As much as we love DC, sometimes absence makes the heart grow fonder. Leave the Beltway, politics, and Metro, and all other aspects of DC life far behind for the day or the weekend. Since we have spent a fair amount of time together poolside, talking about getaways while our children splash in the sun, I collaborated with local resource expert Jessica McFadden, from A Parent in Silver Spring , Read more...

Trains and Other Modes of Transportation on Rails

by Leticia

May 22, 2008

My toddler is obsessed with trains. He knows the best places to spot trains and Metros while riding in the car and has a keen ear that always alerts him to approaching trains. For train lovers, there are many opportunities to get up close and personal with trains in the DC Metro Area and beyond. The B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore is a train lover's paradise. Cases upon cases of model trains Read more...